Suja Lowenthal Joins the Race for Mayor of Long Beach

Suja Lowenthal announced Tuesday that she is running for Mayor of Long Beach.

“Long Beach is my home. She is home to my family. I am deeply committed to the future of our great city. Therefore, after serious consideration and the support of my family, friends and close advisors, I have decided to run for Mayor of Long Beach.”

Suja Lowenthal is serving her second term as City Council representative to the Second District, which includes much of Downtown, the Port of Long Beach, coastal and historical communities. During her terms on City Council, she has served as Vice Mayor (2010/11) and as an alternate to the California Coastal Commission. Currently, she is Long Beach’s representative on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Suja also serves on the board of Heal the Bay.

Suja Lowenthal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from UCLA, a Master’s in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles and a Doctorate in Policy, Planning and Development from USC.

In 2001, Suja Lowenthal was elected to the Board of Education in the Long Beach Unified School District, serving as Board president for two years, during which time LBUSD earned recognition as the best urban school district in the nation by the Broad Foundation.

“The essence of effective government is balance. Balance has been the hallmark of my years of service on the school board and city council. The challenge is to find the right balance promoting business and creating jobs that pay a decent wage. The balance between strong law enforcement and keeping young people out of trouble. And, of course, balancing what government provides with what we can afford.”

“We live in a beautifully diverse city. People from around the world have made Long Beach their home. Finding the balance between what makes us different and what we have in common is my passion, my history, and my commitment.”

Suja Lowenthal’s professional background includes her work for the City of Los Angeles Department of Aging and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office as the Coordinator of its Domestic Violence Unit. She has over 15 years of experience in the water industry serving policy roles in the Central Basin Municipal Water District, West Basin Municipal Water District and Water Replenishment District of Southern California. She has also taught as an Adjunct Professor at California State University, Long Beach on California. Currently, Suja Lowenthal works as an urban planning professional in public transportation.

Suja Lowenthal has combined her public policy and community experience with her education in business and planning to address issues such as parking, beach water quality and urban planning. She has provided the political will and leadership to advance the City’s award-winning bicycle-friendly and active living agenda, its progressive strategies in animal care services and green policies involving recycling, stormwater runoff and alternative forms of energy.